Improvement in percussion-fuse



W. GARDNER.

Shell Fuse.

Noe-103,599. Patented May 31, 1870,

WILLIAMGARDNER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Letters Patent No. 103,599, dated -May 31, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN PERCUSSION-FUSE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

'To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GARDNER, of the city and county of SanFrancisco, State of Oaliibrnia, have invented an Improved TimelessPercussion- Fuse for Projectiles and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class of percussionfuses which employ acap or fulminate which is exploded by means of a sliding bolt; andconsists in certain specific details of construction, which will befully described hereinafter.

In the drawing-- Figure 1 isa longitudinal section of a machineembodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a spherical projectile or shell.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a projectile of the pointedcylindrical form. I

Like letters refer to like parts.

To enable others skilled in the art or science to which it most nearlyappertains to make and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation.

A is a stout cylindrical tube, closed at one end by the cap B, and atthe other end by the cap 0.

, To the cap B is attached the elastic clamp D, consisting of fourelastic fingers or strips of metal that grasp the sliding bolt E andretain it with suflicient force to prevent it from slipping out, exceptin the manner desired.

Into the cap 0 is screwed the nipple F, and upon which is placed thepercussion-cap G.

The nipple l and the cap 0 are perforated in such a manner that, if therecess H was filled with powder, the explosion of the percussion-capwould ignite said powder.

It is evident that if a machine constructed as represented in fig. 1 becaused to move swiftly in the direction shown by the arrow, and thensuddenly checked or stopped in its progress, the momentum acquired bythe sliding bolt E would carry that bolt out of the elastic or springclamp I), and along the tube A, until it came in contact with thepercussion-cap G, causing said cap G to explode.

And it is further evident that if the said machine was imbedded in anexplosive compound, the explosion of said percussion-cap would ignitethe said explosive compound.

Also, if similar machines were imbedded in the powder contained in thecavities of projectiles, as. shown in figs. 2 and 3, and projectileswere discharged from cannon in the direction of the arrows, saidprojectiles, following a well-know law, would continue moving on withthe point or heaviest part in advance until they came in contact withthe earth or something to arrest their progress, and the sliding bolt Ewould continue moving on after the progress of said projectiles hadbeen'arrested, and until the sliding bolt camc in contact with thepercussion-cap G, exploding said cap G, and igniting the powder andexploding the projectiles instantaneously when coming in-contact withany solid body opposing their course.

Having thus described my invention,

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure b Letters Patent, is.-

The percussion -fuse described, consisting of the tube A, caps B and O,clamps D, sliding bolt E, nipple F, and cap G, when combined andarranged as described, and adapted to be placed indepefidently in anyproper projectile without special attachment there.- to.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

W'itnesses: WM. GARDNER. [L. s.]

O. W. M. SMITH, E. V. SUTTER.

